Clothing print method employing inkjet printer, and clothing print system

ABSTRACT

A T shirt stretching tool ( 4 ) in a closed state is inserted into a T shirt ( 5 ) of print object. The T shirt stretching tool ( 4 ) is opened to the right and left, the body portion ( 51 ) of the T shirt ( 5 ) is spread to the right and left and then the front part ( 51   a ) and the back part ( 51   b ) of the body portion are stretched to bring about a planar state (step for stretching clothing). The T shirt ( 5 ) spread to the right and left by the T shirt stretching tool ( 4 ) is then mounted on the medium mount ( 22 ) of an ink jet printer ( 2 ) while the front part ( 51   a ) is directed upward (step for setting clothing). Thereafter, the ink jet printer ( 2 ) is driven to print a print image at a set position of the front part ( 51   a ) in the body portion ( 51 ) of the T shirt ( 5 ). Consequently, a pattern can be printed neatly on a T shirt using an ink jet printer.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a clothing print method and a clothingprint system capable of printing on a T-shirt or other clothing throughthe use of an inkjet printer.

BACKGROUND ART

Screen printing is commonly employed when printing a pattern or the likeon a T-shirt. Screen printing requires that a plate be fabricated incorrespondence with the pattern, and the number of printing stepsincreases for multi-color printing. A method for sewing pre-dyed clothis therefore used as a method for making a T-shirt in which varioustypes of different patterns are printed on the entire surface thereof.However, this method has drawbacks of high cost and long manufacturingtime.

An arbitrary pattern can easily be printed on the surface of a T-shirtusing an inkjet printer. However, since the use of an inkjet printerassumes that printing will be done on paper or another flat surface, itis difficult to neatly print on the surface of a T-shirt that iswrinkled and not flat.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is toprovide a print method and print system whereby an arbitrary design canbe printed using an inkjet printer on a cloth article, particularlyclothing that is shaped so as to have a body portion, such as a T-shirtor the like.

According to the present invention for overcoming the drawbacksdescribed above, there is provided a cloth article print method forprinting on the surface of clothing or another cloth article using aninkjet printer, and the cloth article print method is characterized incomprising a stretching step of mounting a stretching tool at an area tobe printed in a cloth article and using the stretching tool to spreadthe area to be printed, thereby bringing about a flat state in the areato be printed; a cloth article setting step of mounting the area to beprinted of the cloth article on a medium mount of an inkjet printer; anda print step of printing on the area to be printed of the cloth articlethrough the use of the inkjet printer; wherein the stretching step isperformed before or after the cloth article setting step.

When the stretching step is performed before the cloth article settingstep, in the stretching step, the stretching tool capable of stretchingin a predetermined direction is mounted at the area to be printed of thecloth article, and using the stretching tool to spread the area to beprinted creates a flat state in the area to be printed; and in the clotharticle setting step, the area to be printed of the cloth articlestretched by the stretching tool is mounted on the medium mount of theinkjet printer.

When the stretching step is performed after the cloth article settingstep, in the cloth article setting step, the area to be printed of thecloth article is affixed to a medium mount surface of the medium mountof the inkjet printer; and in the stretching step, the stretching toolis mounted in the area to be printed of the cloth article adhered to themedium mount, and the area to be printed is spread into a flat state.

According to the present invention, there is also provided a clothingprint method for using an inkjet printer to print on clothing that has abody portion, and the clothing print method is characterized incomprising a clothing stretching step of inserting an expandableclothing stretching tool in the body portion of a clothing article,expanding the clothing stretching tool, and spreading out the bodyportion of the clothing, thereby stretching a front part or back part ofthe body portion of the clothing into a flat state; a clothing settingstep of mounting the clothing spread by the clothing stretching tool ona medium mount of an inkjet printer; and a print step of printing on afront part or back part of the body portion of the clothing through theuse of the inkjet printer.

In the present invention, the fabric of the front part or back part ofthe body portion can be kept in a flat state by using the clothingstretching tool to spread the body portion of the clothing.Consequently, print data of an arbitrary design or the like can beneatly printed without omission using an inkjet printer on the fabricthat is kept in a flat state.

In the method of the present invention, the clothing stretching toolprovided with a sleeve insertion panel capable of spreading a sleeveportion of the clothing into a flat state is used in the clothingstretching step to bring about a flat state in an area to be printed ina front part of the body portion and sleeve portion of the clothing, orto bring about a flat state in an area to be printed in a back part ofthe body portion and sleeve portion of the clothing; and in the printstep, printing is performed in the area to be printed of the bodyportion and sleeve portion of the clothing that is in a flat state.

The use of a clothing stretching tool provided with a sleeve insertionpanel enables printing on the entire surface of the front part of thebody portion and sleeve portion of the clothing.

The method of the present invention is characterized in comprising aprint position setting step of capturing an image of the clothingmounted on the medium mount and setting a print position on the basis ofthe captured image, prior to the print step. Print data can be printedin a target area of the clothing. Printing may also, of course, beapplied in a random position, in which an image is not captured tospecify the print position, or so as to extend beyond the area of theclothing, for example.

The method of the present invention is characterized in comprising aheating or drying step of fixing the ink discharged onto the clothing,the heating or drying step being performed after the print step. Theclothing may be pressed and dried by an iron, for example.

The method of the present invention is applied particularly to printingon a T-shirt.

According to the present invention, there is also provided a clothingprint system for printing on clothing by the method described above, andthe clothing print system is characterized in comprising a clothingstretching tool capable of extending to the left and right, having beeninserted into the body portion, in order to spread the body portion of aclothing article to the left and right into a flat state; and an inkjetprinter; wherein the inkjet printer is provided with an inkjet head, amedium mount for mounting the clothing article printed by the inkjethead, and control means for controlling the driving of the inkjet headin order to print predetermined print data on a clothing article that ismounted on the medium mount.

The clothing print system preferably has imaging means for capturing animage of a clothing article mounted on the medium mount, wherein thecontrol means of the inkjet printer determines the print position ofprint data on the basis of a captured image acquired by the imagingmeans. Of course, a configuration may also be adopted in which atemplate including numerous patterns or other print images is displayedon a display, and a print image is selected.

The clothing print system preferably has heating or drying means forheating or drying a printed surface of a clothing article mounted on themedium mount.

The inkjet printer used may comprise conveyance means for conveying themedium mount in sequence through the print position of the inkjet headand the position of heating or drying by the heating or drying means.

The clothing stretching tool employed by the present invention ischaracterized in that it comprises an elongated rectangular plate-shapedbase, a pair of slide panels capable of sliding to the left and rightalong a surface of the plate-shaped base, and a slide mechanism forallowing the slide panels to slide toward or away from each other.

In order to enable printing on the sleeve portions of the clothing aswell, a clothing stretching tool may be used in which a sleeve insertionpanel for inserting into a sleeve portion of a clothing article isformed integrally with or attached to each of the slide panels.

The slide mechanism preferably comprises an operating lever that isoperated in the direction orthogonal to the sliding direction of theslide panels in order to slide the slide panels; and restraining meansfor restraining the operating lever in an operating position. The distalend of the operating lever may be formed so as to protrude from thebottom of the clothing when the clothing stretching tool is inserted inthe body portion of the clothing. When the operating lever is releasedwith the clothing in a spread state, the spread state is maintained bythe restraining means. Consequently, a state in which the clothing isspread out to the left and right can easily be formed by moving theoperating lever a predetermined amount.

According to the present invention as described above, the front part orback part of the body portion of a clothing article can be kept in aflat state by using the clothing stretching tool to spread the clothingto the left and right. Since the gap between the inkjet head of theinkjet printer and the printed surface part of the clothing can be keptconstant in this state, printing can be neatly applied to the clothing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing the overall structure of a T-shirt print systemto which the present invention is applied;

FIGS. 2( a) and 2(b) are a plan view and sectional view, respectively,showing the T-shirt stretching tool shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view showing the state in which the T-shirt stretching toolshown in FIG. 2 is used;

FIG. 4 is a view showing another example of a T-shirt stretching tool;

FIG. 5 is a view showing another example of a T-shirt stretching tool;and

FIG. 6 is a view showing another example of a T-shirt stretching tool.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

An embodiment of a T-shirt print system to which the present inventionis applied will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings.

(Overall Structure)

FIG. 1 is a view showing the overall structure of a T-shirt printsystem. The T-shirt print system 1 has an inkjet printer 2, a printercontrol device 3, and a T-shirt stretching tool 4.

The inkjet printer 2 has a rectangular device table 21; an elongatedrectangular medium mount 22 that is horizontally supported by the devicetable 21 so as to be able to move reciprocally in the forward-reversedirection (Y direction) of a printer; a conveyance mechanism 23 forconveying the medium mount 22 in the forward-reverse direction; aninkjet head 24 for printing on a T-shirt 5 that is set on the mediummount 22; and a drive control unit 26.

The inkjet head 24 is mounted to a carriage 27 so that an inkjet nozzlesurface 24 a of the inkjet head 24 faces downward. The carriage 27 iscapable of reciprocal movement in the X direction along a guide shaft 28that is extended in the width direction (X direction) of the printer. Acarriage motor (not shown) is set in a ceiling portion 29 a of a supportframe 29 that supports the carriage 27. The ceiling portion 29 a of thesupport frame 29 is attached so as to be able to ascend and descend withrespect to left and right end panel parts 29 b, 29 c. The gap between amounting surface 22 a of the medium mount 22 and the inkjet nozzlesurface 24 a of the inkjet head 24 mounted on the carriage 27 can beadjusted by raising and lowering the ceiling portion 29 a.

The T-shirt 5 in a state of being spread to the left and right by theT-shirt stretching tool 4 is mounted on the medium mount 22. In thisstate, the T-shirt 5 can be printed while the medium mount 22 is movedin the Y direction, and the inkjet head 24 is moved back and forth inthe X direction by the carriage 27.

A plurality of CCD cameras 7 are mounted to the device table 21, and theCCD cameras 7 capture an image of the T-shirt 5 that is mounted on themounting surface 22 a of the medium mount 22 in an initial position. Adrying unit 8 provided with an infrared lamp or the like is provided ina position further to the rear on the device table 21 than the inkjethead 24. The drying unit 8 dries the printed surface of the T-shirt 5 onwhich printing has been completed, and fixes the ink.

The printer control device 3 is based on a personal computer, and has acontrol unit 31 that houses a processor or the like; a keyboard or otherinput device 32; and a display device 33. An image of the T-shirt 5captured by the CCD cameras 7 can be displayed on the display device 33.In the printer control device 3, a display in which the captured imageof the T-shirt 5 is superimposed on a print image is displayed on adisplay screen of the display device 33. An operator can adjust theposition of the print image in relation to the T-shirt image via theinput device 32 and determine the print position of the print image. Thecontrol unit 31 controls the driving and printing operation of theconveyance mechanism 23 and the inkjet head 24 so that the print imageis printed in the determined print position.

Various types of print images are stored in an image memory of thecontrol unit 31, and the operator selects one of the print images, andcan thereby print the image on the T-shirt 5. It is also possible, ofcourse, for an arbitrary image to be read by a scanner or other imagereading means, and for the image to be printed. Print data may also beacquired from the outside via a communication line and printed on theT-shirt.

FIGS. 2( a) and 2(b) are a plan view and sectional view, respectively,showing the T-shirt stretching tool 4, and FIGS. 3( a) and 3(b) areviews showing a state in which the T-shirt stretching tool 4 is used.The T-shirt stretching tool 4 is inserted into the body portion 51 ofthe T-shirt 5 from the bottom thereof, and by extending the T-shirtstretching tool 4 to the left and right, the T-shirt 5 is spread to theleft and right, and the front part 51 a or back part 51 b of the bodyportion 51 is kept in a flat state.

The present T-shirt stretching tool 4 is provided with an elongatedrectangular base plate 41 made of stainless steel; slide panels 42, 43made of resin that can open and close to the left and right along thesurface of the base plate 41; and an opening and closing mechanism 44for opening and closing the slide panels 42, 43 in the width direction.Pairs of guide holes 42 a, 43 a elongated in the transverse directionare formed in the slide panels 42, 43, respectively. Four guide pins 49attached to the base plate 41 are slidably inserted, one into each ofthe guide holes 42 a, 43 a.

The opening and closing mechanism 44 is provided with an operating lever45 that extends in the longitudinal direction, and two pairs of links 46a, 46 b, 47 a, 47 b. The operating lever 45 is attached so as to be ableto slide in the longitudinal direction along the surface of the baseplate 41. A plurality of wave-shaped notches 45 a, 45 b for regulatingthe operating position are formed on the left and right edges of theoperating lever 45. A pair of locking tabs 48 a, 48 b that are fitted byspring force on one pair of left and right notches 45 a are attached tothe base plate 41. Consequently, the operating lever 45 is kept immobilein a predetermined operating position in the longitudinal direction bythe restraining means composed of the notches and locking tabs.

The pair of links 46 a, 46 b are extended parallel to each other betweenthe operating lever 45 and one of the slide panels 42, and afour-jointed link mechanism is thereby formed. In the same manner, theother pair of links 47 a, 47 b are extended parallel to each otherbetween the operating lever 45 and the other slide panel 43, and alsoform a four-jointed link mechanism. When the operating lever 45 is movedin the longitudinal direction, the left and right slide panels 42, 43slide in opposite directions and open and close.

The T-shirt stretching tool 4 thus configured is inserted from belowinto the body portion 51 of the T-shirt 5 to be printed, in a state inwhich the left and right slide panels 42, 43 are closed, as shown inFIG. 3( a). The operating lever 45 is then pushed upward, and the leftand right slide panels 42, 43 open. As a result, the body portion 51 ofthe T-shirt 5 is spread to the left and right, and the front part 51 aand back part 51 b of the T-shirt body portion 51 that is extendedbetween the left and right slide panels 42, 43 are stretched and kept ina flat state, as shown in FIG. 3( b).

The base plate 41, slide panels 42, 43, and links 46 a, 46 b, 47 a, 47 bof the T-shirt stretching tool 4 are preferably rounded or tapered atthe corners thereof so as not to damage the T-shirt 5.

When printing is also applied to left and right sleeve portions 52, 53of the T-shirt 5, a T-shirt stretching tool must be used that is alsocapable of maintaining the sleeve portions 52, 53 in a flat state. FIG.4 is a plan view showing a T-shirt stretching tool for this purpose.

Since the T-shirt stretching tool 4A shown in FIG. 4 has the same basicstructure as the T-shirt stretching tool 4 described above, the samereference numerals are used to refer to corresponding parts thereof, andno redundant description will be given. Sleeve insertion panels 401, 402capable of inserting into the sleeve portions 52, 53 are formedintegrally with left and right slide panels 42A, 43A in the T-shirtstretching tool 4A. When the sleeve insertion panels 401, 402 areinserted into the sleeve portions 52, 53 of the T-shirt 5, the sleeveportions 52, 53 are spread in a flat state and kept flat.

The left and right sleeve insertion panels 401, 402, instead of beingformed integrally with the slide panels 42A, 43A, may be attached to theslide panels 42A, 43A so as to be foldable or capable of sliding in aprotruding or retracted state.

A mechanism other than the four-jointed link mechanism described abovemay also be used as the mechanism for opening and closing the left andright slide panels 42, 43 or slide panels 42A, 43A. For example, aconfiguration may be employed in which inclined surfaces 411, 412 areformed on the inside ends of a pair of slide panels 42B, 43B, andinclined surfaces 413, 414 capable of sliding along the inclinedsurfaces 411, 412 are formed on an operating lever 45B, as shown in FIG.5. In this case as well, when the operating lever 45B is pulled, theleft and right slide panels 42B, 43B are able to open to the left andright, and when the operating lever 45B is pushed upward, the left andright slide panels 42B, 43B can be closed.

When a T-shirt is spread using the T-shirt stretching tool shown inFIGS. 2, 4, and 5, the area to be printed can be easily and reliablymade flat by preparing a medium mount 22 on which a weakly adhesiveadhesion surface is formed on the mounting surface 22 a, adhering theT-shirt 5 in a spread state to the mounting surface 22 a, and theninstalling the T-shirt stretching tool and spreading the T-shirt 5 untilwrinkles are eliminated.

In this case, the T-shirt 5 can also be spread using two left-rightsymmetrical stretching panels 61, 62 that are shaped so as to correspondto sleeves, and a substantially rectangular stretching panel 63 that isplaced between the stretching panels 61, 62, as shown in FIG. 6. In thiscase, the T-shirt 5 is spread and adhered to a sticky mounting surface22 a so that the area of the T-shirt 5 to be printed faces upward. Theleft and right stretching panels 61, 62 are then inserted. Lastly, thestretching panel 63 is pushed in between the stretching panels 61, 62,the left and right stretching panels 61, 62 are pushed out to bothsides, and the T-shirt 5 is spread flat to the left and right.

(Printing Operation)

The operations involved in printing a T-shirt 5 using the presentT-shirt print system 1 will now be described. First, the closed T-shirtstretching tool 4 is inserted in the T-shirt 5 to be printed, theT-shirt stretching tool 4 is opened, and the body portion 51 of theT-shirt 5 is spread to the left and right, whereby the front part 51 aand back part 51 b of the body portion are stretched into a flat state(clothing stretching step). When the T-shirt stretching tool 4A is used,both sleeve portions 52, 53 are also stretched into a flat state, andthe desired printing can be applied to the front parts or back parts ofthe sleeve portions as well.

The T-shirt 5 that is spread to the left and right by the T-shirtstretching tool 4 is then placed on the mounting surface 22 a of themedium mount 22 of the inkjet printer 2 (clothing setting step). Whenprinting is applied to the front part 51 a of the body portion 51 of theT-shirt 5, for example, the T-shirt 5 is mounted so that the bodyportion 51 faces upward.

The operator selects a print image in the printer control device 3before or after the setting step such as described above.

The T-shirt 5 mounted on the medium mount 22 is then imaged by the CCDcameras 7 and displayed in a superposed state with the selected printimage on the screen of the display device 33 of the printer controldevice 3. The operator adjusts the position of the print image via theinput device 32, and sets the print position of the print image (printposition setting step). The size of the print image may be increased ordecreased to fit the size of the T-shirt. A configuration may also beadopted to enable the color of the print image to be changed on thescreen.

The inkjet printer 2 is then driven and printing is performed.Specifically, the conveyance mechanism 23 activates and conveys themedium mount 22 to the print position of the inkjet head, the inkjethead 24 is also activated synchronously with the conveyance of themedium mount 22, and the print image is printed in the set position inthe front part 51 a of the T-shirt body portion 51.

The printed T-shirt 5 is conveyed through the drying unit 8. Whilepassing through the drying unit 8, the printed surface of the T-shirt 5is dried, and the ink is fixed (drying step).

The clothing print method and clothing print system of the presentinvention may be applied to printing of clothing other than a T-shirt.For example, the present invention may be applied to printing the frontpart or back part of clothing such as a sweater or the like that isprovided with a body portion.

The present invention may also be applied to printing of cloth articlesother than clothing. For example, the present invention may be appliedto printing of hats, gloves, socks, belts, pet clothing, and variousother types of cloth articles.

1. A cloth article print method for printing on the surface of clothingor another cloth article using an inkjet printer, comprising: astretching step of mounting a stretching tool at an area to be printedin a cloth article and using the stretching tool to spread said area tobe printed, thereby bringing about a flat state in the area to beprinted; a cloth article setting step of mounting said area to beprinted of said cloth article on a medium mount of an inkjet printer;and a print step of printing on said area to be printed of said clotharticle through the use of said inkjet printer; wherein said stretchingstep is performed before or after said cloth article setting step. 2.The cloth article print method according to claim 1, wherein saidstretching step is performed before said cloth article setting step; inthe stretching step, said stretching tool capable of stretching in apredetermined direction is mounted at said area to be printed of saidcloth article, and a flat state is brought about in the area to beprinted by using the stretching tool to spread said area to be printed;and in said cloth article setting step, said area to be printed of saidcloth article stretched by said stretching tool is mounted on the mediummount of said inkjet printer.
 3. The cloth article print methodaccording to claim 1, wherein said stretching step is performed aftersaid cloth article setting step; in said cloth article setting step,said area to be printed of said cloth article is affixed to a mediummount surface of said medium mount of said inkjet printer; and in saidstretching step, said stretching tool is mounted in said area to beprinted of said cloth article adhered to said medium mount, and the areato be printed is spread into a flat state.
 4. A clothing print methodfor using an inkjet printer to print on clothing that has a bodyportion, comprising: a clothing stretching step of inserting anexpandable clothing stretching tool in the body portion of a clothingarticle, expanding the clothing stretching tool, and spreading out thebody portion of the clothing, thereby stretching a front part or backpart of the body portion of the clothing into a flat state; a clothingsetting step of mounting said clothing spread by said clothingstretching tool on a medium mount of an inkjet printer; and a print stepof printing on a front part or back part of said body portion of saidclothing through the use of said inkjet printer.
 5. The clothing printmethod according to claim 4, wherein said clothing stretching toolprovided with a sleeve insertion panel capable of spreading a sleeveportion of the clothing into a flat state is used in said clothingstretching step to bring about a flat state in an area to be printed ina front part of the body portion and sleeve portion of the clothing, orto bring about a flat state in an area to be printed in a back part ofthe body portion and sleeve portion of the clothing; and in said printstep, printing is performed in said area to be printed of the bodyportion and sleeve portion of said clothing that is in a flat state. 6.The clothing print method according to claim 4, comprising a printposition setting step of capturing an image of said clothing mounted onsaid medium mount and setting a print position on the basis of thecaptured image, prior to said print step.
 7. The clothing print methodaccording to claim 4, comprising a heating or drying step of fixing theink discharged onto said clothing, the heating or drying step beingperformed after said print step.
 8. The clothing print method accordingto, claim 4 wherein said clothing to be printed is a T-shirt.
 9. Aclothing print system for printing on clothing by the method accordingto claim 4, comprising: a clothing stretching tool capable of extendingto the left and right, having been inserted into the body portion, inorder to spread the body portion of a clothing article to the left andright into a flat state; and an inkjet printer; wherein the inkjetprinter is provided with an inkjet head, a medium mount for mounting theclothing article printed by the inkjet head, and control means forcontrolling the driving of said inkjet head in order to printpredetermined print data on a clothing article that is mounted on themedium mount.
 10. The clothing print system according to claim 9,comprising imaging means for capturing an image of a clothing articlemounted on said medium mount; wherein said control means of said inkjetprinter determines the print position of print data on the basis of acaptured image acquired by said imaging means.
 11. The clothing printsystem according to claim 9, comprising heating or drying means forheating or drying a printed surface of a clothing article mounted onsaid medium mount.
 12. The clothing print system according to claim 11,wherein said inkjet printer comprises conveyance means for conveyingsaid medium mount in sequence through the print position of said inkjethead and the position of heating or drying by said heating or dryingmeans.
 13. The clothing print system according to claim 9, wherein saidclothing stretching tool comprises: an elongated rectangularplate-shaped base; a pair of slide panels capable of sliding to the leftand right along a surface of the plate-shaped base; and a slidemechanism for allowing the slide panels to slide toward or away fromeach other.
 14. The clothing print system according to claim 9, whereina sleeve insertion panel for inserting into a sleeve portion of aclothing article is formed integrally with or attached to each of saidslide panels.
 15. The clothing print system according to claim 13,wherein said slide mechanism comprises: an operating lever that isoperated in the direction orthogonal to the sliding direction of theslide panels in order to slide said slide panels; and restraining meansfor restraining the operating lever in an operating position.